Biomechanical and histological comparison of two suture configurations for soft tissue grafts: speedtrap™ versus krackow stitch.

To compare 2 different graft preparation techniques to determine biomechanical strength and resultant tissue trauma evaluated by histology. Twelve common flexors of the finger's tendons were prepared with either tubulization (SpeedTrap™) or transtendon stiches (Orthocord™). The stiffness, resistance and energy at maximum load were tested for biomechanical assessment in both groups. After load testing, Samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) to evaluate histological damage. We observe that the time to prepare tendons with SpeedTrap™ was 8.3 times faster (1:25 min) than traditional ones (15:02 min). In all cases, the mean values for SpeedTrap™ were higher in terms of strength, stiffness and energy at maximum load than for traditional suture but without significant difference (p > 0.05). The Krackow stitch produces greater structural damage to the collagen fibers while SpeedTrap™ maintains better organized arrangement of the fibers after tubulization preparation. With the results obtained, we can conclude that the tubulization technique allows faster graft preparation with less structural damage to the manipulated tissue without altering the biomechanical resistance provided by the transtendon suture technique.

[Obesity and steatohepatitis. Histologic aspects]. / Obesidad y esteatohepatitis. Aspectos histológicos.

The traditional concept of adipose tissue as a passive reservoir for energy storage is no longer valid because it has been demonstrated that adipose tissue is a complex, essential, and highly active metabolic and endocrine organ that not only responds to afferent signals from traditional hormone systems and the central nervous system (CNS), but also expresses and secretes factors with important endocrine functions. These factors include leptin and other cytokines. Adipose tissue is also a major site for metabolism of sex steroids and glucocorticoids. The important endocrine function of adipose tissue is emphasized by adverse metabolic consequences of both adipose tissue excess and deficiency. Adipose tissue excess, particularly in visceral compartment, is associated with insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and prothrombotic and proinflammatory states. Liver is one of the principal targets of lipid-associated damage by mechanisms that involve apoptosis activation by source of tumoral necrosis factor-alpha and caspase activation and liberation of oxygen-reactive species by oxidative stress and enzymatic chains such as P450, CYP2E1, and CYP3A4, resulting in a continuum involving non alcohol-related fatty liver, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with or without fibrosis, and liver cirrhosis. This work presents an overview of endocrine functions of adipose tissue and its influence on mechanisms of liver damage.